ASU Football: Daniels between rock and hard place in Wisconsin loss

(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)

LAS VEGAS – Arizona State Football junior quarterback Jayden Daniels’ 2021 season has been one that’s featured plenty of tests.

Any collegiate quarterback’s development perhaps becomes pivotal once their third year rolls around, especially those with professional aspirations.

Where Daniels has struggled the most in his junior campaign has not just been in refining his abilities as a passer, but also in taking care of the ball and making smart decisions.

During the 2021 season, perhaps more than any other in his career, Daniels has attempted to compensate for those miscues with his legs, and on Thursday night in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl against Wisconsin, he turned to his ole reliable once more.

But this time, Daniels didn’t get the results that he garnered so often this season.

Against an FBS-best Badger run defense, Daniels scampered a career-high 19 times for a mere 40 yards in the Sun Devils’ 20-13 loss to Wisconsin.

“I give all credit to the Wisconsin defense,” Daniels said. “Everybody in this room knew what they were capable of. They’re not the top-ranked defense in the nation for no reason – they’re very disciplined. We knew coming in that this game would be won up front at the line of scrimmage.”

Daniels and the Sun Devils saw what they were up against in the Badgers, and it warranted an attempt to directly avoid getting stuffed at the point of attack, so, naturally, the junior dropped back to throw.

But the Sun Devils’ opening drive at Allegiant Stadium embodied the same kind of slow start that has been a thorn in ASU’s side down the stretch. ASU ran five plays, all of which saw Daniels retreat to pass. Only one was completed, and the drive ended in an errant interception that led to a Wisconsin score.

Without redshirt senior running back Rachaad White and sophomore running back DeaMonte Trayanum (who opted out for the NFL Draft and transferred, respectively), Daniels and company found themselves backed into an early corner. But even then, Daniels ran, and without the ability to stay in the pocket or find the open man downfield consistently, the Badgers found a way to exploit it.

As a team in the first half, ASU rushed 18 times for a woeful 41 yards. Daniels accounted for 11 of those carries, and the Sun Devils were eventually held to under 100 yards on the ground for the first time all season (33 rushes for 60 yards).

Granted, the pressure that Wisconsin was able to get didn’t help ASU’s cause, which inevitably led to four sacks from the Badger defense. A depleted offensive line that was missing the likes of senior guard Henry Hattis and junior center Dohnovan West also made it difficult for Daniels and the offense to move the ball as well.

“Their [Wisconsin’s] front seven did a good job,” Daniels said. “[Head] coach Herm [Edwards] and [offensive coordinator Zak] Hill told me at the end of the day if nothing is open then do what you do: make some plays.”

Regardless, that theme isn’t strictly limited to a handful of games. Daniels has often turned away from his arm and passing ability to try and get what he can on the ground in 2021. His 17 touchdown passes his freshman year in 2019 seemingly appeared to display confidence (and chemistry with his receiving core) in getting the ball downfield and making a big play.

While he did everything he could on Thursday – Daniels finished 11-21 passing for 159 yards – he left plenty more on the table after missing deep shots to junior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and redshirt freshman wideout Elijhah Badger. Hill and Daniels both acknowledged the reality that if the Sun Devils wanted to have a chance against Wisconsin, they were going to have to “take shots.”

Given his ability to make plays with his elusiveness and athleticism in the open field as a runner, Daniels has the potential to be even better when on the same page with his pass catchers, which is an element of ASU’s offense that could improve in 2022.

“You see we weren’t scared to take shots,” Daniels said. “Even if I was under duress. If we want to be a 10, 11 or 12-win team, we have to connect on those shots and on big plays.”

Daniels and the Sun Devils’ offense as a whole will have to wait until next September to show on-field improvement in not just their skill but as an overall unit.

Daniels has time to fine tune himself and his game heading forward, but he has one more year to make a mark on the program and his own future.

“We knew going into this that it was going to be a tough game and he was going to have to do some things with his feet,” Hill said of Daniels. “The 19 rushes, I probably would’ve predicted that going in. That’s part of what makes Jayden special, because a defense doesn’t only have to go cover all those guys, but then they have to figure out how they’re gonna handle him.”

“He will consistently improve and I’m excited to see what he’s gonna do in the offseason and into next year.”